Hip-Hop Timeline
Explore the trajectory of rap music from its inception in the late '60s to today
AARP, December 3, 2019
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PHOTO BY: Columbia Records
En español | 1960s Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) captures his rhymes and boasts on a spoken-word album called I Am the Greatest!
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PHOTO BY: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Pigmeat Markham
1968 Comedian Pigmeat Markham releases “Here Comes the Judge.” His rhymes over funk beats are considered an early template for hip-hop.
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PHOTO BY: Archive PL / Alamy Stock Photo
1969 James Brown records “Funky Drummer.” Clyde Stubblefield’s drum beat has been used in numerous rap songs.
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PHOTO BY: Joe Conzo
DJ Tony Tone and DJ Kool Herc
1973 DJ Kool Herc’s party in the Bronx is considered the official beginning of hip-hop.
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PHOTO BY: Peter Noble/Redferns
1977 Grandmaster Flash starts scratching records. That sound defined early hip-hop.
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PHOTO BY: Anthony Barboza/Getty Images,
Sugarhill Gang
1979 The Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” is rap’s first Top 40 hit.
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PHOTO BY: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
1980 Kurtis Blow releases “The Breaks,” the first rap single to be certified gold.
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PHOTO BY: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
1984 Run-DMC release their debut album, launching the career of hip-hop’s first superstar group.
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PHOTO BY: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Rick Rubin (l) and Russell Simmons attend the 28th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on April 18, 2013 in Los Angeles, California.
1984 Influential record label Def Jam Recordings is founded by Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin.
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PHOTO BY: Scott Gries/Getty Images
(L-R) Fab 5 Freddy, Doctor Dre, Ed Lover, and Dave Sirulnick pose for a photo during the Yo! MTV Raps 20th Anniversary Roundtable at the MTV Times Square Studios on April 7, 2008 in New York City.
1988 Yo! MTV Raps premieres in the US, giving hip-hop a national platform.
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PHOTO BY: Allstar Picture Library / Alamy Stock Photo
1989 Spike Lee (pictured in character) releases Do the Right Thing, featuring “Fight the Power” by Public Enemy.
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PHOTO BY: NBC/courtesy Everett Collection
1990 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, a weekly sitcom starring Will Smith, premieres on NBC.
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PHOTO BY: Moviestore collection Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo
1991 Boyz n The Hood, starring Ice Cube, is released to commercial and critical acclaim.
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PHOTO BY: KMazur/WireImage
Lauryn Hill
1999 The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill wins the Grammy for album of the year, a first for hip-hop.
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PHOTO BY: Andrew Lipovsky/NBC
(l-r) Host Jimmy Fallon and Ringo Starr during "Yellow Submarine Classroom Instruments" with The Roots on September 24, 2019
2009 Jimmy Fallon launches his late-night talk show with hip-hop act The Roots as house band.
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PHOTO BY: AP Photo/Carlos Giusti
2016 Hip-hop music “Hamilton,” written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, wins 11 Tony Awards.
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PHOTO BY: Thomas Cooper/Getty Images
2018 Rapper Kendrick Lamar’s album Damn wins the Pulitzer Prize in music.
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PHOTO BY: Chris Pizzello
Billy Ray Cyrus, left, and Lil Nas X perform "Old Town Road" at the BET Awards on Sunday, June 23, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
2019 Lil Nas X’s country-rap song “Old Town Road” spends a record 19 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100.
